He recorded with Charles Mingus in 1976, and replaced Pat Metheny in Gary Burton's quartet. In autumn 1976 he signed a contract with Enja Records, and he released his first album East Meets West in 1977. In 1979 he formed a trio with Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. He later joined Miles Davis, with whom he remained until 1985.
While still with Davis, he released Electric Outlet (1984). Still Warm (1985) followed after he left Davis's group.
At the beginning of the 1990s, he formed a quartet with Joe Lovano with whom he recorded several important albums for Blue Note Records. Time on My Hands (1990), with Lovano, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette, showcased Scofield's guitar and Mingus-influenced writing. Bill Stewart subsequently became the group's drummer, and played on Meant to Be (1991) and What We Do (1993). In 1992, Scofield released Grace Under Pressure, featuring fellow guitarist Bill Frisell, with Charlie Haden on bass and Joey Baron on drums. Stewart was back in the drum chair for the 1994 collaboration with Pat Metheny, I Can See Your House from Here. Also, in 1997 he recorded "A Go Go" LP, supported by the fame of Medeski, Martin and Wood, truly a masterpiece with range of lounge music and finest funk feel behind the beat.
Towards the end of his tenure with Blue Note, Scofield returned to a more funk- and soul jazz-oriented sound, a direction which has dominated much of his subsequent output. At this time, he also started performing with various jambands, and even performed with DJ Logic to cover Phish's "Cars Trucks Buses", on Sharin' in the Groove (2001).
He released Überjam in 2002 and Up All Night in 2004, two albums on which he experiments with drum n bass and other modern rhythms. Late 2004 saw the release of En Route, which features the jazz trio of John Scofield, Steve Swallow on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. It was recorded live at The Blue Note, NYC in December 2003.
More recently Scofield has been jamming with the likes of Medeski, Martin and Wood, and has even gone so far as to record an album with them, this time with equal billing, as Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood.
On September 26, 2006 he released Out Louder, his second collaborative effort album with avant garde jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood.
On September 18, 2007 he released This Meets That, a record featuring his trio with Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart. This time John added a horn section to expand the sound of his trio. The touring unit for this record features the Sco Horns, a three piece horn section of Phil Grenadier on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tom Olin on tenor saxophone, flute and alto flute and Frank Vacin on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet.
Presently, Scofield is a part of the NYU/Steindhart Jazz program in New York City, as a faculty member.
What'd I Say
John Scofield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and love me all night long
Oh oh, hey hey
All right now
See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to twist that thing
Oh oh, hey hey
Tell your mama, tell your pa
I'm gonna ship you back to Arkansas
Oh yes, you don't do right
You don't do right
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say
Yes, I wanna know
I wanna know
Baby, I wanna know right now
Yes, I wanna know
Honey, I wanna know
Yes, I wanna know
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey ho ho hey
Sing me one more time
Sing me one more time
Sing me one more time
Sing me one more time
Sing me one more time
Sing me one more time
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey ho ho hey
Make me feel so good
Make me feel so good
Make me feel so good right now
Make me feel so good
Make me feel so good
Make me feel so good
Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh ho ho huh
Baby, it's all right
Baby, it's all right right now
Baby, it's all right
Baby, it's all right
Baby, it's all right
Baby, it's all right
Come on, twist that thing
Come on, twist that thing
Keep a twistin' that thing
Keep a twistin' that thing
Keep a twistin' that thing
Keep a twistin' that thing
Make me feel all right
Well, I feel all right
Well, I feel all right
Well, I feel all right
Well, I feel all right
Well, I feel all right
John Scofield's song "What'd I Say" is a cover of the classic Ray Charles hit released in 1959. The song follows the structure of a call and response, with the lead singer calling out to the audience for a response. The first stanza involves the main singer calling out to his mother, asking her not to treat him wrong and to love him all night long. The second stanza highlights the girl with the diamond ring who knows how to twist that thing, and how the audience should respond with "All right now."
The next section starts off with the main singer stating he will ship her back to Arkansas since she doesn't do right. The chorus continues with "Tell me what'd I say" repeated multiple times, highlighting the lead singer's desire to know the truth. The ending involves the lead singer asking the audience to sing one more time followed by the phrase "Keep a twistin' that thing" and "Make me feel alright," highlighting a desire to groove and have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Addressing his significant other, John warns them not to make any wrong moves.
Come and love me all night long
John requests that his significant other express their love all throughout the night.
See the girl with the diamond ring
John points out a specific girl with a diamond ring.
She knows how to twist that thing
John is impressed with this girl's dancing skill and emphasizes it through the lyric.
Tell your mama, tell your pa
John requests that his significant other inform their family about their relocation to Arkansas.
I'm gonna ship you back to Arkansas
John asserts his decision to move his significant other back to their hometown Arkansas upon their misbehavior.
Oh yes, you don't do right
John justifies his decision to move out by highlighting his significant other's wrongs.
Tell me what'd I say
John seeks a response from his significant other in response to his decision.
Yes, I wanna know
John emphasises his need to know his significant other's thoughts on their relocation.
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey
Ho ho
Hey hey ho ho hey
This chorus primarily serves the purpose of the song and thus, does not hold any particular meaning apart from a repetition and reinforcement of the hook.
Sing me one more time
John prompts another performance of the song.
Make me feel so good
John requests his significant other to make him feel good through actions.
Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh
Ho ho
Huh huh ho ho huh
This line, much like the chorus provides no particular meaning and serves a purpose of repetition.
Baby, it's all right
John reassures his significant other all things will turn out just fine.
Come on, twist that thing
John requests his significant other to revisit their dancing skills and impress him once again.
Keep a twistin' that thing
John stirs his significant other to keep displaying their talents on the dancefloor.
Make me feel all right
John confirms his emotional well-being as a response to a scenario, likely produced by his significant other.
Well, I feel all right
John reiterates his emotional state.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Sentric Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Charles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind